10 Best Rick and Morty Jokes About Marvel and the MCU

by

This week, Rick and Morty took a more direct jab at blockbuster superheroes than ever before, but it’s worth noting that this series has always had a knack for poking fun at the genre through jokes and parodies. Unlike traditional satire, Rick and Morty doesn’t directly mock these heroes, but it frequently incorporates references to Marvel and the MCU into its narratives – alongside numerous other elements from geek culture. Interestingly, several of the show’s top writers have also worked on the MCU, which may have influenced some of the show’s humor through shared camaraderie. Furthermore, given that DC Comics is also owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the series often finds opportunities to playfully take aim at them as well.

Show “Rick and Morty” has explored almost every nook and cranny of various genre storytelling, from science fiction to superheroes, fantasy, tabletop role-playing games, and more. Given that Marvel comics have been a significant source of humor in the series, it’s no wonder that they’ve drawn inspiration from such a popular universe – “Rick and Morty” made its debut in 2013, coinciding with the Marvel Cinematic Universe gaining momentum and becoming the powerhouse it is today. Following the viral episode titled “Ricker than Fiction,” let’s revisit 10 of the show’s funniest jabs at Marvel.

The Council of Ricks

Back in the early days, I found myself drawn into the captivating world of Rick and Morty, where the concept of the multidimensional nexus known as the “Citadel of Ricks” was first introduced in Season 1’s Episode 10, “Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind.” Here, we were introduced to the “Council of Ricks,” a sinister group of Rick variants that initially bore resemblance to Marvel Comics’ “Council of Reeds.” However, as the series progressed, these characters took a more subtle role. Yet, the show never shied away from poking fun at this intriguing idea. One of my favorite jokes came from Summer (Spencer Grammer) in Season 3’s premiere: “My grandpa was my hero. You killed him because you were jealous of him, that’s pretty obvious from the haircuts.

Hulk: The Musical

In the next episode of the series, there was another witty jab at Marvel, particularly delighting fans of Jerry. In Season 2, Episode 4 titled “Total Rickall,” the Smith-Sanchez family recalled attending a play named “Hulk: The Musical.” They all enjoyed it and left with Hulk musical souvenir t-shirts, with Jerry sporting Hulk hand gloves. As Beth cautioned Jerry that foam fists didn’t grant him strength, he replied, “I know! Friends give you strength, just like the same musical we both watched.

It’s fascinating how viewers often confuse this scene with a false memory because the episode suggests that many scenes are delusions caused by parasites. However, it’s important to note that in this particular scene, the family is joined by Mr. Poopybutthole. The twist of the episode reveals that he is genuine. Unfortunately, the family has moved between universes on more than one occasion since then, so it’s uncertain whether a musical titled “Hulk: The Musical” ever existed in any other realities.

Vindicators

Clearly, the Vindicators find themselves as a humorous spin-off of the Avengers, and singling out one joke that encapsulates their wit proves challenging. Nevertheless, one particularly memorable instance is when Vance Maximus (played by Christian Slater) voices his disapproval of Rick’s drinking habits, stating, “Your drinking isn’t like my sophisticated, attractive drinking – it’s more like the erratic behavior of a trailer park resident!

Sentient Lab Coat

Some viewers found it incongruous when Rick made a Marvel Cinematic Universe reference by ordering his lab coat to mimic Doctor Strange’s action in Season 4, Episode 3 titled “One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty”. To avoid a security guard, the eccentric scientist verbally commanded: “Lab coat, imitate Doctor Strange’s act”, causing his coat to detach from him spontaneously and ensnare the guard for several minutes.

For series co-creator Dan Harmon, who collaborated with Marvel on their Doctor Strange project, this joke was particularly apt. On his podcast “Harmontown,” he shared that he had an unstructured conversation with the studio about how portals are utilized in Rick and Morty, as well as the writers’ methods for creating them. This could have marked the commencement of the show’s association with Marvel Studios, prior to some of its writers establishing themselves as key figures within the MCU.

Mr. Nimbus

Currently, Mister Nimbus enjoys a unique fanbase, yet he initially served as a subtle nod to Marvel’s Namor, the Sub-Mariner. As the arrogant ruler of the seas (and the police), Nimbus may seem an unusual adversary for Rick, but it is precisely this incongruity that makes him ideal for the role. With only three episodes remaining in Season 8, many viewers eagerly anticipate a cameo by Mister Nimbus before the end of the year.

Stranded in Space

Season 6 begins with Rick and Morty adrift in space, on fragments of the Citadel of Ricks. This structure was obliterated when Evil Morty managed to flee from the Central Finite Curve. The inaugural scene is a comedic interpretation of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, where Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and Nebula (portrayed by Karen Gillan) are found stranded on a derelict spaceship. Rick humorously imitates Tony’s message to Pepper, and they are eventually saved by Space Beth, who serves as an amusing equivalent to Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It’s quite amusing how Rick and Morty poke fun at their own jabs towards the MCU, effectively making light of themselves. Rick grumbles, “I don’t have a helmet like that superhero from the Avengers did,” and later on, Morty queries, “Hey, do you remember when you feigned ignorance about Iron Man? Who was that intended for?

‘Night Family’

In Season 6, Episode 4 titled “Night Family,” Morty’s past words come back to haunt him when he and Rick begin a podcast discussing their physiques. While reading an ad for a sponsoring underwear company, Rick mentions that his briefs feature a character from a movie resembling the raccoon man. However, Morty correctly but sarcastically identifies the character as Chewbacca instead of Rocket.

This same episode includes a humorous reference to Thor’s quest in “Avengers: Infinity War” where he crafts a new weapon. Similarly, Rick embarks on a journey in this episode, but instead of creating a weapon like Stormbreaker to combat an intergalactic danger, he manufactures unbreakable plates because he stubbornly refuses to yield to the “night family.

Condescending Dinosaurs

In the sixth episode of Season 6 titled “Juricksic Mort,” the joke that Rick and Morty make about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is particularly degrading. Dinosaur aliens from space return to Earth, offering to manage the planet for humanity’s benefit. They subtly mock humans by suggesting they focus on making Marvel movies, finish developing the Ant-Man character, and get more tattoos, implying that this is all humans are capable of or interested in.

Criticizing the Marvel Cinematic Universe as shallow entertainment isn’t a new idea, but it’s certainly stirred up fans multiple times. It’s an opinion that Rick and Morty, oddly enough, have managed to express without much controversy.

Blade vs. Knights of the Sun

In the subsequent part of the season, Rick makes a light-hearted comment about Marvel’s Blade trilogy during “A Rick in King Mortur’s Court.” When it comes to Morty facing off against the Knights of the Sun, Rick equips him with a sword that adapts to its opponent’s moves through artificial intelligence. Rick assures Morty he won’t need to train the sword beforehand since “the sword has previously watched Blade and loved it. You should be alright.

Hugh Jackman

Ultimately, the premiere of Season 7 places Rick amidst peculiar companionship, even featuring actor Hugh Jackman, who lends his voice to the character. Rick advises his group members against referring to Jackman as “Wolverine,” but when Gene, the neighbor with a penchant for cheesy humor, does so, Jackman remains unperturbed. However, others do not share this tolerance in the subsequent scenes of the episode, which leaves Rick frustrated.

Rick and Morty shares a strong bond with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and geek culture overall, yet it manages to maintain both criticism and admiration towards the massive franchise. With only three episodes left in this season, you can catch new episodes every Sunday at 11 p.m. ET on Adult Swim.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/rick-and-morty-season-8-adult-swim-review/embed/#

Read More

2025-07-09 02:10